WHEAT COMMISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3999, 19 September 1929, Page 2

WHEAT COMMISSION.

INQUIRY CONTINUED

Wellington, Sept. 18. The Wheat Duties Inquiry .continued hearing evidence to-day. Mr. W. D. Hunt, representing the Unemployment Committee, submitted a paper pi-epared for the committee, recommending the removal of all duties on stock foods including wheat and wheat offal, hut not on wheat for human consumption. This was to enable New Zealand to compete in the Home -market with pig and poultry products which, he was satisfied, was possible under the suggested conditions. He strongly opposed the subsidy to millers. The subsidy had to be borne by somebody and would mean extra land or income tax.

Mr. H. Barber, representing the master (bakers, quoted prices of flour and bread in Australia and New Zealand, and said that on the Australian basis bread here would be [6fcl and 7d pelr two-pound loaf. He was certain there could not he a reduction in the price of bread without a reduction in the price of wheat and-flour.

Mr. F. (H. Hawker, of Christchurch, 'baker, said his firm was losing 6/4 petr week in making, heavy bread. This was made up on fancy lines.

A house baker gave the following figures of the cost of producing a two-pound loaf: —Wages, 0.6; fuel, 0.13; upkeep of plant, 0.1; salt and other ingredients, 0.31; flour, 3.2; administration 0.3; interest, (1.08; delivery wages, 0.57, other delivery costs, 0.25 —total 54d. Mr. W. A. Reflow, a Wellington baker, said lie had wo'rked out the cost of delivered bread at 5.73.

The. inquiry adjourned till Tuesday.